It was midday. The Dawsons, Brinkleys, Cooks, and close family and friends attended the funeral of Millicent Amber Taylor. She had died two days ago from her severe fight with polio. The day of Millie's death, Audrey didn't say one single word, didn't eat, and stayed in her room. Every time Rose, Jack, or Max went in there, she was lying on her bed, staring at the ceiling with tears streaming down her cheeks, which would stain her black dress. Either that, or sitting down, writing, when they would came in bringing food as an excuse to come in.
Today, Audrey was sitting one row behind the front pew, in between her mother and her older brother, Max. Audrey started at the coffin that her friend lay in. It was as if it was screaming towards Audrey, and the only thing that she could do was to stare back at it. Rose held Jack's hand, squeezing now and then when she looked over to her daughter, as she stared ahead intently.
Max comforted Audrey by giving her little hugs with his right arm, and whispering, "It's all right. Shh," in her ear, trying to stop her from crying.
Rose knew exactly what was going on in Audrey's mind. What she was feeling and everything. So did Jack.
"Poor Thomas," Rose whispered softly into Jack's ear. "It must be hard losing his sister, especially at this age."
Jack nodded, and kissed Rose on the forehead.
*****
After the burial and ceremony, there was a short get together, to help comfort the Taylors with their loss, and to also reunite the Taylor relatives who had lost touch. Rose, Jack, Camilla, Scott, Anna, and John were all talking. Max and Audrey sat together outside, talking and eating little snacks that had been provided.
"Thomas looks lonely," Max commented.
"Yes, he does." Audrey touched the yellow rose, which she had taken from the funeral to remind her of Millie.
"Why don't you go and talk to him?"
"Why should I? You and him are both men. You'll understand each other better."
"Yes, but you and Thomas are the same age. Besides, you know him more than I ever will."
Audrey closed her eyes, sighed, opened them, and looked at Max. "All right. I will, but I'm only doing this to make you happy." Audrey got up.
"Whatever you say, Audrey. Whatever you say." Max still sat on the side of the small fountain, and watched Audrey walk toward Thomas, who was walking back and forth under the cool shade.
"Hello, Thomas," Audrey said, trying to sound cheerful.
Thomas smiled. "Audrey. Hi."
Audrey gave a faint smile, and so did Thomas. "Nice day, huh?" Audrey pointed up towards the sky.
Thomas let out a chuckle. "Yeah, nice."
Audrey twirled the rose around. "Thomas, I'm sorry. About Millie and all."
"You know, she always spoke of you as a sister." Thomas looked at Audrey seriously as he leaned himself against the tree.
Audrey couldn't believe what she heard. She knew that she and Millie were best friends, but she never considered Millie taking her as a sister. Audrey smiled, and looked at Thomas. "Did she?"
Thomas nodded as an answer. Audrey smiled again, and touched the rose's delicate pedals. "Audrey."
Audrey looked up, and raised her eyebrows.
"You wanna go walk around for a while? Go down to the beach?"
Audrey smiled. "I'd like that."
They smiled at each other, and they opened the gate and started to walk down the sidewalk.
Thomas loosened his tie. "Okay. That's better."
Audrey chuckled as she still held the rose in her hand.
"Was that from the funeral?"
Audrey smiled, and nodded. "Yes."
"What's the purpose for taking it?"
"Just another thing to remind me of Millie."
Thomas nodded. "Those were her favorite flowers."
Audrey nodded her head. "I know."
They reached the beach to watch the sunset start. Thomas and Audrey found a log, and sat down.
"It's so beautiful, to think that it is actually real. It gives everyone a reminder that there is actual magic. What do sunsets remind you of?"
Thomas looked down at the sand, then at the sunset, then Audrey. "When I think of rainbows, I think of Millie. She always showed her rays of color all at once. When I think of sunsets, I think of you. To think that something so beautiful is actually real, that it reminds people that there is true magic."
Thomas touched Audrey's face, and she placed her fingers over his hand. Audrey's heart was pounding as Thomas's lips got closer to hers, and when their lips pressed together, Thomas's heart skipped a beat. It was not long, but not short. When their lips separated, Audrey and Thomas found each other both smiling. It was silent. Nothing was said between them. Audrey took her fingers and rubbed them back and forth on her bottom lip.
Thomas looked curious, and finally broke the silence. "Was that your first kiss?"
Audrey nodded. "Yes." She was still rubbing her lip.
"Did I press too hard?" Thomas asked nervously.
Audrey chuckled. "No, it was perfect."
Thomas smiled. "Would you like to try it again?" Thomas felt a little embarrassed. He felt as if he asked too excitedly.
"Sure." Audrey nodded, and the two kissed again, this time more passionately, deeper, and longer.
They didn't separate this time after they kissed. They embraced each other. Thomas wrapped his arms around Audrey's stomach, and she placed hers arms on top of Thomas's and she rested herself on Thomas's chest, leaning her head against his shoulder.
"What do you want to be when you grow up?" Audrey asked, looking up at Thomas.
"An archaeologist."
"That sounds like an interesting occupation."
"I love to discover new things. What do you want to be?"
Audrey paused for a second, and felt the breeze, then listened to the calming waves, and then looked out into the sunset. "I don't know, yet, to tell you the truth."
"Maybe you can become an archeologist, too, and we can search for vanished tribes in Africa and treasures that belonged to the Pharaohs."
Audrey laughed, and so did Thomas. "Well, I'll think about it, all right?"
Thomas just chuckled, and kissed her forehead.
"What's going to happen to us after this night?" Audrey asked.
Thomas looked down, "What do you mean?"
"Will we ignore each other, and act as if this day never happened?"
"Of course not, Audrey. Not unless you want to."
"No, I don't."
They kissed again, and decided that night that they would meet each day at the beach at two o' clock. They kissed one more time before going back home. They were a block away from home when Thomas grabbed Audrey by the hand and kissed her. Audrey smiled, and started to walk in front of Thomas. He sped up a bit, too, so he was then walking next to Audrey, and he grabbed her hand.
